Posts Tagged ‘Rescue’

While the Eastern half of the country prepares for another round of winter (and we note that the Nashville area, yet again, gets a cold blast, but still has NO SNOW… just bare brown ground- grrrr), WE can be working on emergency/disaster preparedness.

Honestly, I’m not a doomsday prepper. I’ve just been through, or watched friends and family go through, enough disasters to realize the benefits of preparation.

More and specialized courses through your local/state Emergency Management Agency – for example, how to read a map/GPS; basics of Search & Rescue; information on how to join or put together a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or a Community Animal Response Team (CART).

So while most are pouring over seed catalogs, I’ll be working on updating my information, making sure my equipment is clean and working (or consider investing in new equipment), seeing where I can help my local EMA.

I am updating this blog post for applicability to Hurricane Harvey, and to add/remove grant makers as needed. There is also information in here that is applicable to those recovering from wild fires, earlier floods, etc.
~Vivi 8/31/17

I want to thank my friends Sarah Barnett, at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and Rebecca Gimenez, Director and head instructor of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, Inc. (TLAER, Inc.)- she LITERALLY wrote the book on Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue for all sorts of situations, for this pretty darned extensive list of grants:

FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR GRANTS – Don’t say that we don’t try to help you make it happen… LOL! here are a few that you might want to check out… updated as of 8/2017.

4) The Brennan Equine Welfare Fund assists equine rescue shelters across the country that provide dignity to aged, injured, abused, starved and slaughter-bound horses, as well as those used in medical experimentation. This fund supports registered, 501(c) (3) organizations that specialize in retirement and rehabilitation services and offer a peaceful and permanent sanctuary for horses. Shelters which offer carefully scrutinized adoption and replacement services are also supported. To apply, go to http://www.brennanequinewelfarefund.com and click on “Grant Proposals.” (For additional information the 2015 contact was Linda Pavey at (513) 561-5251 or brennanequinewelfarefund@yahoo.com.)

5) The Equus Foundation raises public awareness in the value of horses through education and awards of grants to charities that illustrate the benefit of horses, promote equine welfare, and elevate equestrian sports. Visit http://www.equusfoundation.org

6) The Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org is an excellent source of information for various kinds of potential funders. They offer an extensive SEARCHABLE database on U.S .grant makers as well as training programs (some are free while others are fee-based) covering all aspects of fundraising. They also publish a guide for foundations interested in funding environment- and animal welfare-related organizations. Locations are available in libraries across the country.

7) The Petco Foundation Grant was established in 1999 and since then, has raised and distributed more than $34 million through fundraisers and donations. To be eligible, local organizations must enlist the support of their local Petco store. For more information, go to http://www.petco.com/petco_Page_PC_petcofoundationhome.aspx or call 626-287-0952.

9) AAEP Foundation accepts equine specific funding requests that are dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Funds are awarded to those requests that have the most impact on a national and/or international level. http://www.aaep.org/foundation_funding_grants.htm

10) Equine Protection Fund The Trail’s End program subsidizes some veterinary fees and disposal costs for humanely euthanizing suffering horses and other equines. To qualify, low-income horse owners must have verification from a licensed veterinarian. Emergency feed assistance is available to horse owners who have incurred temporary financial difficulty (job loss, medical emergency, foreclosure, etc.) within the past 6 months. The also provide assistance for gelding. http://equineprotectionfund.org/programs.php

11) Heart of a Horse The Heart of a Horse Foundation will provide a grant for farms, fellow non-profits associated with horses (rescue, therapy, community outreach) and individual horse owners needing support and assistance obtaining medicine. Horses are being slaughtered and put down for reasons otherwise handled by proper treatment and medicine; this grant will help rectify these cases. http://www.heartofahorse.org/about/about-hoah/

12) The following are “libraries” of grantmakers specific to animals, welfare, etc:

13) After the Finish Line provides funding assistance to rescue organizations devoted to caring for Thoroughbred ex-racehorses and broodmares. They provide both grants and emergency funds to qualified Thoroughbred rescue and retirement organizations located throughout the United States. For more information on this grant program, go to: http://www.afterthefinishline.org/.

14) Blue Horse Charities was formed in 2001 to assist organizations that provide Thoroughbred racehorse retraining and adoption, and the emphasis is to keep all Thoroughbreds out of the hands of “killer buyers.” For more information or to fill out a grant application, go to: http://www.bluehorsecharities.org.

15) The mission of Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) is to “provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers, by supporting retirement, rescue and research and by helping the people who work with them.” This enables TCA to offer equine grants for Thoroughbred rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, adoption, retirement and euthanasia. For more information, visit: http://www.tca.org

This link is a good source for information about animal evacuations. This is mostly for Coloradans, as it lists the shelters that accept animals, what to do if you were forced to evacuate without your animals (say if you were at work and couldn’t get home), and information about Large Animal Rescue.

I watch, feeling fairly helpless, as friends are evacuated and forever changed by the current flooding in Colorado. My training- and yes, I’m finally getting training for Disaster Preparedness and Large Animal Emergency Rescue- is not completed yet, not that it would help. I’m not in a call up area. I’ve learned so much from the courses I’ve taken so far- such as DO NOT DEPLOY to a disaster unless you’re called up. The last thing the disaster needs are too many people wanting to help but not having anything to do.

What I CAN do, is get information out. For those of you wanting more information about the flooding, I’m including a link to the local Denver news Facebook Page.

Tornadoes are a horrible thing to go through, as a human… and for animals it can be even more frightening ~ Many animals were lost in the terrible EF-5 tornado that devastated rural Oklahoma, an area where horses and livestock were very common. The story, that Michele has written here, reminds me of the first few days after our EF-3 tornado in 2008, except that the Oklahoma situation was much, MUCH, worse.
Please, if you are involved with livestock, with horses, with animals in general, get involved with a some sort of legitimate animal first response team. TLAER (http://www.tlaer.org/) is a good place to get training ~ Horse Evacuations East is a great Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/HorseEvacuationsEast), and United States Equine Rescue League, another one of Michele’s organizations, is another great organization to get involved with (http://www.userl.org/). Here’s Michele’s story (note, to go on, click on the part II and then part III at the bottoms of the pages): http://www.nickernews.net/ok-first-responders.aspx#.Ud8OkFOGF5i

I just obtained this list last night. Please help me update it. Thanks.

Many people do not realize that Amateur Radio operators (hams) will relay messages for free. Please understand that the messages are brief and will not be chatty and full of details, they’re all relayed into and out of a disaster area, so brevity and accuracy is imperative. Check with www.arrl.org for further information on this, under the National Traffic System.

New Info for Oklahoma donations and aid info:

TEXT BASED DONATION INFORMATION: STORM to 80888 for The Salvation Army USA. REDCROSS to 90999 for Redcross, or FOOD to 32333 for Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Each text is for $10 charged to your phone bill.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, visit www.regionalfoodbank.org or call 405.604.7111. You can also text FOOD to 32333 to give $10 to relief efforts

To donate $5 to Red Cross from within Canada: REDCROSS to 30333

The Animal Resource Center is taking in pets that have been misplaced by the tornado. They are located just North of Moore at I-240/i35 intersection. Address is 7949 S. I35 service Road. Number is 405-604-2892

The University of Oklahoma is opening up spaces in Housing for displaced families. Call (405)-325-2511 for more information.

A triage center has been set up at the Warren Theater in Moore for anyone who need to be treated for their injuries.

Tracy and Holly Porter told News 9 they have 60 acres with barns and pipe fencing just north of Seminole. Anyone needs somewhere to keep their cows and horses, call the Porters at (405)-777-6570 or (405)-921-0204.

Sonya Martinez said she owns a 125,000 sq ft building at 4300 North MacArthur in Oklahoma City, and is offering services to anyone in need of shelter, food or prayer regarding this tornado.

Resthaven Funeral Home on S.W. 104th and Western/Walker has water, bathrooms, and phones available for volunteers and victims.

If cranes or equipment is needed for any tornado damage, the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors can provide equipment now. Contact Bobby Stem, AOGC, at (405)-520-1874.

The Red Cross has set up a website for people who are looking for their families or friends in the areas hit by the tornado, just go to www.safeandwell.org.

If you want to donate on-line to the animals from OKC and those coming into the shelter from other areas who need medical or other care after these tornadoes, please go to www.okc.gov/animalwelfare and follow the link to the Donation Station. You can choose from a variety of donation options, including the Angel Fund, which pays for medical care for animals needing care.

This is information I’ve picked up over the years. I hope it’s useful…
Surviving a Disaster for Humans and Animals
A number of years ago, we had a tornado touch down and do massive damage in our rural Tennessee area outside of Nashville. During the months, and years, that followed, I collected information regarding disasters, which I hope can help those in need now. By no means is this complete or authoritative. It’s just a start. And I hope it helps.
~Vivi
After surviving something like Hurricane Sandy, do not be surprised if folks are in shock. Especially those who have lost their homes or had major damage. It seems like everything will be in slow motion- from your own responses to the responses of the Rescue and Recovery teams. But actually, nothing is in slow motion, and that’s when mistakes can be made. Here are some tips to help you through your recovery:
1) Before getting out to inspect damage, make sure everyone, and all pets, are physically ok. Double check to see if there are any cuts, scrapes, etc. This is important, because there will be standing water that might be contaminated. You want to make sure all wounds are covered and protected from potential infection. Staph infection is very common during disaster recovery and can be very dangerous.
2) Make sure anyone going into debris area/inspecting damage is wearing heavy work boots and good gloves. With receding water, the power of high winds, and downed trees, it is very likely there will be sharp debris embedded in the soil or sticking out where it can’t be seen. You DO NOT want to get cut by any of this debris as the likelihood of infection is great.
3) Take a camera with you. And use it. Before any work is done, before a chainsaw comes out, tarps get put on roofs, limbs picked up, RECORD everything. This will help you later when the insurance adjuster comes out and sees only a clean yard and no trees on the house… you’ve got to prove there was damage. In suburban and urban areas, trees themselves are sometimes included in the insurance (i.e., you will receive insurance money for downed trees), but you’ve got to be able to prove those trees were damaged/downed/destroyed by the storm. Therefore, photographs.
4) When photographing damage, make sure you get overall shots with significant landmarks (i.e., a tree on top of your house, the tree down with the street sign- which is readable- in the background, the boat in your yard with the house in back). This will help in proving that the damage actually occurred to YOU… Additionally, take close ups of damage to help prove exactly what was damaged.
5) The usual order of rescue/recover is:
a) Emergency Management Teams (this will include your local EMT, possibly the first wave of Federal folks – FEMA, paramedics, fire/police, and emergency veterinarians in areas where farms might occur). These teams will go door to door to find victims, and will, most likely, spray paint marks on doors or other structures with important information regarding that particular property. DO NOT REMOVE this information until instructed to by your emergency management team or insurance agent.
b) Red Cross- They have shelters already in place. As rescue/recovery starts, they will coordinate with other organizations to help- they will provide water to victims and volunteers.
c) Church Groups- Such as Church of Christ Disaster Relief. These folks are AMAZING! BUT… you must make sure they are legit (some evil folks will pretend to be with relief organizations and then rob you blind), AND do not let them start repairs or clean up until you have spoken with your insurance company and TAKEN PICTURES OF EVERYTHING. We found, after our tornado, that these wonderful people did such a good job of cleaning up and repairing, that insurance companies didn’t believe that damage had occurred. Over the next few weeks, these Church organizations will bring you meals, water, help. I can’t say enough about how wonderful they are-
d) United Way- Each effected area will have a branch set up. They will hand out and distribute funds and each United Way branch/situation is different. In many situations you will have to prove need. It’s just a matter of filling out paper work. They will provide temporary housing vouchers and other vouchers on an as needed basis.
e) FEMA stations- I believe they may already be getting set up.
f) Local volunteer organizations- As the other agencies pull back, you’ll find that you need to either create, or your local area will find a way to create, a disaster recovery volunteer organization. I believe the IRS will grant temporary and/or emergency 501c3 status to such organizations. These are important because they will be the way to apply for grants for repairs, materials, food, etc. Folks good at organizing groups will want to go to V.O.A.D. (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) meetings. The United Way and the Church organizations will also help communities organize.
6) Some information that FEMA has on their recovery page (http://www.ready.gov/recovering-disaster): Inspect your home carefully before entering.
Walk carefully around the outside and check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage. If you have any doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or structural engineer before entering.
• Keep a battery-powered radio with you so you can listen for emergency updates and news reports.
• Use a battery-powered flash light to inspect a damaged home.
Note: The flashlight should be turned on outside before entering – the battery may produce a spark that could ignite leaking gas, if present.
• Watch out for animals, especially poisonous snakes. Use a stick to poke through debris.
• Use the phone only to report life-threatening emergencies.
• As you return home, watch for fallen objects; downed electrical wires; and weakened walls, bridges, roads and sidewalks.
Do not enter if:
• You smell gas.
• Floodwaters remain around the building.
• Your home was damaged by fire and the authorities have not declared it safe.
Be cautious when entering your home after a disaster.
When you go inside your home, there are certain things you should and should not do. Enter the home carefully and check for damage. Be aware of loose boards and slippery floors. The following items are other things to check inside your home:
• Natural gas. If you smell gas or hear a hissing or blowing sound, open a window and leave immediately. Turn off the main gas valve from the outside, if you can. Call the gas company from a neighbor’s residence. If you shut off the gas supply at the main valve, you will need a professional to turn it back on. Do not smoke or use oil, gas lanterns, candles or torches for lighting inside a damaged home until you are sure there is no leaking gas or other flammable materials present.
• Sparks, broken or frayed wires. Check the electrical system unless you are wet, standing in water or unsure of your safety. If possible, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If the situation is unsafe, leave the building and call for help. Do not turn on the lights until you are sure they’re safe to use. You may want to have an electrician inspect your wiring.
• Roof, foundation and chimney cracks. If it looks like the building may collapse, leave immediately.
• Appliances. If appliances are wet, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Then, unplug appliances and let them dry out. Have appliances checked by a professional before using them again. Also, have the electrical system checked by an electrician before turning the power back on.
• Water and sewage systems. If pipes are damaged, turn off the main water valve. Check with local authorities before using any water; the water could be contaminated. Pump out wells and have the water tested by authorities before drinking. Do not flush toilets until you know that sewage lines are intact.
• Food and other supplies. Throw out all food and other supplies that you suspect may have become contaminated or come in to contact with floodwater.
• Your basement. If your basement has flooded, pump it out gradually (about one third of the water per day) to avoid damage. The walls may collapse and the floor may buckle if the basement is pumped out while the surrounding ground is still waterlogged.
• Open cabinets. Be alert for objects that may fall.
• Clean up household chemical spills. Disinfect items that may have been contaminated by raw sewage, bacteria, or chemicals. Also clean salvageable items.
• Call your insurance agent. Take pictures of damages. Keep good records of repair and cleaning costs.
Be wary of wildlife as you return home after a disaster.
Disaster and life threatening situations will exacerbate the unpredictable nature of wild animals. To protect yourself and your family, learn how to deal with wildlife.
Guidelines
• Do not corner wild animals or try to rescue them. Wild animals will likely feel threatened and may endanger themselves by dashing off into floodwaters, fire, and so forth. Call your local animal control office or wildlife resource office.
• Wild animals often seek higher ground which, during floods, eventually become submerged (i.e., island) and the animals become stranded. If the island is large enough and provides suitable shelter, you can leave food appropriate to the species (i.e., sunflower seeds for squirrels). Animals have a flight response and will flee from anyone approaching too closely. If the animal threatens to rush into the water, back away from the island or you may frighten the animal into jumping into the water to escape from you.
• Do not approach wild animals that have taken refuge in your home. Wild animals such as snakes, opossums and raccoons often seek refuge from floodwaters on upper levels of homes and have been known to remain after water recedes. If you encounter animals in this situation, open a window or provide another escape route and the animal will likely leave on its own. Do not attempt to capture or handle the animal. Should the animal stay, call your local animal control office or wildlife resource office.
• Beware of an increased number of snakes and other predators. These animals will try to feed on the carcasses of reptiles, amphibians and small mammals who have been drowned or crushed in their burrows or under rocks.
• Do not attempt to move a dead animal. Animal carcasses can present serious health risks. Outbreaks of anthrax, encephalitis and other diseases may occur. Contact your local emergency management office or health department for help and instructions.
• If bitten by an animal, seek immediate medical attention.

7) Paperwork. Be prepared to fill out LOTS of paper work. Hopefully you have proof of residence or other proof needed to request help.
8) Donations- for those not affected by the Hurricane, please donate to appropriate places- such as Red Cross, local collection agencies, etc. BE AWARE that the box of clothes you’ve just donated may not be given out immediately. Folks that have been hardest hit won’t have a dresser to put clothes in- and therefore, will only ask for a clean change of clothes for the time being. GREAT items to donate are personal care items- toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo/conditioner, DIAPERS, feminine hygiene products, underwear/bras, deodorant- especially if you have unused hotel packs of the stuff.
9) Here is a list of organizations that may be able to help, the charitable ones will require that requests for assistance come from a 501c3. If you do not have a community volunteer organization set up, check with your EMT, as they will sometimes apply for assistance on your behalf…
a) Red Cross- http://www.redcross.org/ to donate text REDCROSS to 90999. If you can stop by a blood bank, and donate blood, that is very welcome. Unless specifically marked for Hurricane Sandy Relief, donations to the Red Cross go into the general fund, which is not a bad thing btw…
b) United Way- http://www.unitedway.org/
c) National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD): http://www.nvoad.org/
d) FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/
e) American Veterinary Medical Association: https://www.avma.org/kb/resources/reference/pages/hurricane-preparedness.aspx
f) MERCK (the pharma company- has grants for medicine and supplies for both humans and vets treating disaster victims): http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/
g) Humane Society/Disaster Animal Response Team: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/animal_rescue/ndart/ndart.html
h) The Cat Channel has an article detailing animal response/rescue information: http://www.catchannel.com/news/2012/10/29/cats-safe-during-hurricane.aspx
i) PetSmart Charitable Donations (we were able to receive donations after pulling together a list of need and submitting it to our local animal shelter, who applied on our behalf): http://www.petsmartcharities.org/
j) Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to dental, medical and animal health office-based practitioners, today reminded its customers that the Henry Schein disaster relief hotline is open for dentists, physicians, and veterinarians who experience operational, logistical, or financial issues as a result of Hurricane Sandy, which struck the East Coast this week. The toll-free number for all Henry Schein customers – 800-999-9729 – is operational from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. More info here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/10/30/4374779/henry-schein-disaster-relief-hotline.html#storylink=cpy
k) United Animal Nations/Red Rover (has grants for urgent veterinary needs): http://www.redrover.org/index.cfm?navid=161
l) Church of Christ Disaster Relief: http://disasterreliefeffort.org/
m) State Veterinary Directory (can help with finding animal, especially large animal, recovery/information/etc): http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/statevets.aspx
n) Horse Evacuations East (a FaceBook site dedicated to helping organize evacuations/shelters/information, etc- actually does work nationwide and is time tested): https://www.facebook.com/HorseEvacuationsEast?ref=ts&fref=ts